For Rachel and Asher, this is the first time both of them are cruising with Royal Caribbean. For Asher, this is the first time in his life he went on a cruise.

Mariner was still exciting to me because it is TWICE the tonnage of Legend and is the sister ship of Voyager which I have briefly been on board, but did not travel on.

Mariner of the Seas is currently the largest cruise ship homeporting in Asia and has started her maiden Asian season from Singapore on June 1.

The ship has 15 passenger decks and can accommodate 3,807 guests. Activities and entertainment on board the ship include a 900-seater ice-skating rink, full-sized sports court, in-line skating track, rock-climbing wall, mini-golf course, a three-tier theatre and the Royal Promenade – a boulevard of shops and cafes, much like a shopping mall.

For family with children, Mariner of the Seas features the unique DreamWorks Animation entertainment programme. Guests of all ages can interact with ‘celebrity’ characters like Shrek and Fiona of “Shrek”, Alex of “Madagascar” and Po of “Kung Fu Panda” during parades in the Royal Promenade, character breakfasts in the main dining room and photo opportunities. Also new in Asia is the Barbie Premium Experiencefor girls to set sail in true Barbie fashion with staterooms decorated in true Barbie fashion and exclusive, themed activities such as tiaras and teacups party and fashion show.

I was really looking forward to this trip as it will be a good break for the three of us to spend some quality time together, without having to rush all over the place or do a lot of pre-trip planning. With meals and lodging all taken care of and itinerary planner provided every morning, a vacation cannot get easier than this!

Asher is growing up fast and getting very active. Sometimes, he runs so fast that Rachel and I find it hard to keep pace with him. On board a cruise ship, he can run all over the place, but we can be assured he will not be lost. Asher also likes playing in the pool and watching performances. There are many such activities for him on board.

Asher dashing on board the ship in excitement

Best of all, there will be Dreamworks animated characters on the ship!

When we sailed with Mariner of the Seas, the ship had 1,238 crew members on board and over 3,000 guests on board, represented by people from 56 nationalities. I find it a great opportunity to expose Asher to people of different culture and ethnicities.

Asher wandering around while I get to laze around without worrying about him getting lost

If you are considering bringing a young child or infant on a cruise with Royal Caribbean, here are some tips I learned from this trip:

Unlike flying in an airplane, you can pack as much stuff as you need for your child as there is no weight limit. I usually advocate traveling light when traveling with a child, but on a cruise ship, pack more!

Bring your own kid-friendly utensils as the restaurants do not provide these. Baby chairs and booster seats are available though and the wait staff service standard is impeccable.

Bring a thermos flask to store hot water. There is a kettle in the room.

Bring sufficient diapers as I do not recall seeing any store selling them on board. In any case, it will save you the hassle of hunting for diapers on the ship if you run out.

Bring your own child-friendly bath set.

If your child can eat solid food, there is stuff to eat all day round at the various free restaurants. You do not have to pack any extra snacks or fruits.

Bring a nice set of formal wear for your child to dress up on Captain’s Night. Trust me, you would not want your child to be the only one who is underdressed. 🙂

Leave your cumbersome stroller at home and use a baby carrier or sling instead. The ship is big, but not that big that you will tire out walking from one point to another. We did not bring one and managed fine.

If your child is between 3 to 11, you can sign him or her up for the complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Program. This will give you some breather to do some exploring on your own while your child makes some new friends.

If your child is under 3, there is also a paid nursery where you can leave your child in the safe hands of trained nursery staff.

Young children are welcome to watch theatre performances and musicals as long as they accompanied by adults. Do bring your child to a few of these. My son loved them!

Service was impeccable at the restaurant with the wait staff patiently going through each dishes and making the appropriate recommendations. You can order as much as you like from the menu as it is one fixed price.

Mariner of the Seas’ maiden Asian season has lined up cruises from Singapore in early June of 3 and 4 nights to Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and Langkawi, and 10 nights to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Shanghai. She will sail North Asian cruises from Shanghai during the summer before returning to Singapore for more Southeast Asian cruises from November till next March. They include a variety of 3,4 and 5-night cruises to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Langkawi, Penang and Phuket, a 7-night cruise to Bangkok (Laem Chabang) (overnight) and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), and an 8-night cruise to Shanghai with calls at Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Xiamen and an overnight in Hong Kong. She is Royal Caribbean International’s fourth ship homeporting in Asia, following Rhapsody of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean International is an award-winning global cruise brand with a 40-year legacy of innovation and introducing industry firsts never-before-seen at sea. The cruise line features an expansive and unmatched array of features and amenities only found on Royal Caribbean including, jaw-dropping, Broadway-style entertainment and industry-acclaimed programming that appeals to families and adventurous vacationers alike. Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE/OSE: RCL), the cruise line sails 21 of the world’s most innovative cruise ships to the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, South America, Asia and Australia and New Zealand. World renowned for its friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service, delivered 2 by every staff and crew member, Royal Caribbean has been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 10 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Reader’s Choice Awards.

About The Author

Alvin is a marketer by day and blogger by night. He is a 100% geek who spends too much time surfing the web.

5 Comments

Kirsty
on September 14, 2013 at 8:34 pm

Hi there, can I ask, I’m travelling on Mariner’s Exotic Asia cruise next March and am curious about the Dreamworks Experience. I didn’t think it was on the Mariner? Did you have to book for the breakfasts at all? Many thanks

Dear Alvin, many thanks to your post. We’re set to RCC on 10-Nov-13. I have a couple of questions, which I couldn’t get reply from RCC staff. Appreciate if you may assist.
1. If the check-in is similar as airlines, we can’t bring mineral water, can we?
2. You mentioned there is a kettle in the room, is there drinking water/fountain on the cruise or are we supposed to boil tap water?
3. For your last trip, may I know how much was your cabin cost per px?
If any reply is sensitive to post on your blog, you may reply to my email.
Thanks a million!
Serene